A Face in the Crowd (17 page)

She kept her eyes away from Oliver’s probing ones, but it didn’t do her any good.

“Lexie, what’s wrong?”

At Oliver’s question, Bailey tilted his head back to study her face which loomed above him.

She should have known she couldn’t hide her true feelings from Oliver. As much as she hated to admit it, he did understand her. He was somewhere between friend and almost lover which scared her. She was afraid she was becoming too used to having him around. And, she couldn’t become dependent on anyone else who was going to leave her.

“I can’t talk about it right now.” She saw him suck in a deep breath to try to talk her into it, but she stopped him. “Oliver, I’m not trying to keep anything from you. I just can’t talk about it right now while I’m working. I need to get through the rest of my day.”

When she tried to plead with him through her eyes to let it go, he nodded once in understanding.

“Agree to come by and see me when your shift ends, and I’ll let this one slide.” He grinned to try to soothe her emotions.

It worked. “Thank you.”

That evening after the nightshift nurses had taken over and she changed into her street clothes, Lexie made her way back to Bailey’s room. A big part of her was tired and ready to go, but she also wasn’t looking forward to returning home to her empty apartment. Usually, she didn’t mind being alone, but not today. Not after everything that had happened.

“Hey there,” she leaned against the doorjamb, careful to keep her voice down when she saw Bailey dozing.

“Come on in and take a seat,” he sat up a little straighter. “You look beat.”

“Thanks.” She lowered onto the couch beside Oliver and let her messenger bag slide off her shoulder onto the floor. “Are we going to disturb your brother?”

“Nah, he didn’t sleep much last night, so I think he’s pretty out.” He grinned at her. “He said earlier today that he’s thinking about writing a song called Evil Insomnia.”

“It has a nice ring to it.” As she returned his smile, her shoulders relaxed.

“So, are you going to tell me what’s going on with you? It’s more than just Simone’s moving so don’t even try to pin it on that.”

“You think you’re so smart,” she squinted her eyes and stuck out her tongue.

“Oh, I know I’m so smart. Now, tell me,” his tone was gentle, but firm.

She sighed. “I lost one of my favorite patients today.” Her eyes filled and she tried to blink back the tears. She didn’t want to cry in front of Oliver.

“That’s rough,” he slid an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close. “I’m sorry.”

“Thanks. He’s come to mean a great deal to me over the years. I saw his family in the waiting room and I couldn’t even go in. People die all the time here, but there are some patients you get attached to and when they pass . . .”

Oliver’s eyes cut to where his brother slept and she immediately felt bad for saying anything at all.

“Oliver, no. I didn’t mean to imply—”

He shook his head and took her hands in his. “No, I know. It’s just hard sometimes. Hard to look around and think he’ll come out of this.”

“He will.”

He gave her hands a squeeze. “Losing someone is never easy.”

She nodded and wiped away tears before they could roll down her face.

“I have an idea.” He leaned over and grabbed his guitar which was leaning against the wall and plucked a few strings.

As he began to play “Halleluiah,” his soft deep voice filled the room and she felt her heart contract. It was beautiful. There was no stopping the tears. They flowed freely as he sang and she remembered Mr. Roberts and all his kindness. She hoped he was somewhere now reunited with his wife and at peace.

When the song wound down, Oliver looked at her and smiled. Not his made-for-the-limelight smile, but one reserved for the people closest to him. “I’m no Jeff Buckley, but the song seemed fitting.”

“It was perfect. Thank you.”

“If you ever need anything, Lexie, all you have to do is ask.”

“I would never ask.”

“I’m figuring that out about you.”

She stayed a little longer, neither of them saying anything and then when she got ready to leave, she stood and leaned down to kiss his cheek to say thank you. As she began to stand up, his hand caught hers and without warning, he pulled her to him. She stumbled and landed on his lap, but before she could right herself his lips found hers.

A longing stronger than she had ever experienced chased away her surprise. She wanted to melt into his arms and stay that way until dawn. Heat spread through her like a forest fire. He searched her mouth with his own and a little moan escaped her lips. All she knew was that she wanted him. She clung to him like her life depended on it. And, in that moment, maybe it did.

“Lexie,” he said against her mouth and then he was kissing her again, deeper than the first time. “I want you.”

It was a kiss with more longing and more warmth than she’d ever known. As she pulled back and touched fingertips to her still tingling lips, she knew she’d never be the same. Oliver Honeycutt had changed her.

He pressed his mouth to hers again, the surge of need still strong. Too strong. Blinding.

A noise sounded in the hall and Lexie jumped back. She stood up and stared at Oliver in disbelief. Her checks were warm and her lips swollen. She was breathing hard as she looked at him at a loss for words. Could he have felt it, too?

Oliver was staring back at her, his labored breathing matching her own. When the night nurse pushed open the door, Lexie nodded a hello and bolted. In all her life she had never been kissed the way Oliver Honeycutt had just kissed her. Never felt as deeply. As she made her way out of the hospital, she realized with horror that she’d done the one thing she promised herself she wouldn’t do. She’d fallen in love with him.

Chapter 17

Lexie’s drive home did nothing to calm her nerves. Love? Was she completely insane? She tossed her things on her kitchen counter and grabbed a glass out of the cabinet. A short flirtation was one thing, but this . . . She didn’t know what she was thinking. No, wait. That was just it. She wasn’t thinking at all. How could she when Oliver was close by?

She poured some leftover wine into her glass and took a sip, but didn’t taste it going down. Her mind was too full of Oliver. As she thought about how his lips felt on hers, she sighed. He kissed her like it was the first and last time he would ever kiss someone. It was full of passion and longing and her body had immediately responded.

She shook her head to break her line of thought. She had to put a stop to what was happening. If someone at the hospital found out she was kissing a patient’s family member at work, she would get in all kinds of trouble. It wasn’t against the rules exactly, but it wasn’t encouraged either. And, if he kissed her like that again, she was going to end up tearing his clothes off either in the elevator, the backseat of her car, or the nearest wall. Whichever came first.

She sat down on her couch and pulled her feet up under her. How had she let this happen? He had kissed her, she reminded herself. That’s why it happened. He had been stuck in Atlanta for a long time and was away from all his usual companions. Loneliness could make a man do all sorts of strange things and she was convenient. She wasn’t angry. He’d been good to her, a friend, he was lonely and she understood all too well.

There was plenty of blame to go around. She hadn’t stopped him from kissing her. She hadn’t pushed him away. In fact, she’d done the opposite. She had leaned into him and clutched his shirt in her hands like it was some sort of lifeline. If she was smart, she would play it off, keep it light like before—when it had just been a kiss.
Pfft
. As if that was possible.

Lexie picked up the remote and flipped channels until she found Animal Planet. It was a safe choice. No love or romance. Just animal attraction. She could describe the way she was attracted to Oliver the same way. She flipped over to the Discovery Channel. Plants were being discussed. She tried to focus on the nice, safe flowers . . .

“When sexual reproduction takes place in a plant, there are two fundamental—”

“Oh, come on.” With the universe working against her, she opted for another glass of wine. When all else fails, more wine was the answer, according to Simone, anyway.

The next morning, as Lexie pulled into the parking garage at work, her stomach was in knots at the prospect of facing Oliver. As if time itself was working against her, her normal morning routine passed faster than it usually did and before she knew it, she was walking into Bailey’s room. As expected, Oliver was there, dosing on the couch where she’d left him the night before. He was still asleep when she walked in, so she did her best not to wake him.

After writing her name and number on the board, she approached Bailey who was asleep, and took his stats. The action didn’t stop her eyes from wandering to Oliver’s face. His features, when relaxed, were striking and when a small, satisfied smile appeared, she hoped he was dreaming of her. His mouth alone made her body yearn and her heart stir. She pulled her gaze from his face and went about her morning checklist.

When she finished, she breathed a sigh of relief, thankful to put off her meeting with Oliver, but her relief was short-lived.

“You weren’t even going to say good morning? Was it something I did?”

Her hand froze on the door handle. “Good morning.”

When she turned, she found him grinning at her.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

The feigned innocence on his face grated against her nerves.

There she’d been, worried over what had happened half the night and he had the nerve to smirk. “Like that.” She pointed to his face.

“Why, Lexie, I have no idea what you mean.”

She stifled a huff. “I’m sure you don’t. I’ll be back in a minute.” She went out the door and closed it with a bit more force than necessary. Then, she heard his laughter. Absolutely infuriating.

She stormed off and tended to her other patient and took her time assisting Laura with one of hers.

“It looks like they’re not going to fire Ashley,” Laura informed her as they left the patient’s room.

“I never thought they would.”

“I hoped they would,” Laura confided. “It’s been peaceful without her here.”

“I’ll agree with you there. Do you know when she’s expected back at work?”

“Tomorrow.”

Lexie sighed. “It was nice while the peace lasted.” She broke away from Laura and headed back up the hall to Bailey’s room. She had put it off as long as possible.

When she heard Dr. Milo’s voice through the crack in the door, she paused outside.

“I’m pleased to inform you that it looks like tomorrow’s the day, Bailey.”

“Tomorrow? As in twenty-four hours from now?” He let out a whoop. “I’m finally getting out of here.”

“Your platelet counts seem to be holding and your immune system is back on track. Now, you’ll still have to come in every other day for outpatient treatments, but you’ll be able to go home and sleep without interruption.”

“That will be a nice change.”

“How soon can we move him back to L.A.?” It was Andy speaking now. He must’ve come back into town that morning, unfortunately.

“I wouldn’t rush it, but we should be able to get in touch with an oncologist out there and get the treatment lined up without too much trouble.”

Lexie exhaled as a sharp pain echoed throughout her chest. She hadn’t even realized she was holding her breath. This was exactly why she needed to distance herself from Oliver, and fast. She’d known all along he would leave.

“Let me know if you have any questions.”

“Thanks, Doc,” Bailey said.

Dr. Milo passed Lexie on his way out and informed her of Bailey’s status.

“I’ll get everything ready,” Lexie took a few deep breaths and plastered a smile on her face. This was good news. Bailey’s condition was improving which was what they’d been working for. He was getting out.

“Did you hear?” Bailey beamed at her.

“I did. That’s wonderful news. Now you can stop griping about not getting enough sleep,” she teased. “You should call your mom and pass on the news.”

“I’m on it,” Oliver held up his phone and then put it back against his ear.

“Seriously, Bailey, how soon can we get you out of this city? There’s so much to do. You’ve been out of commission and we still have a tour to finish and a new contract with the label to hash out.”

“Whoa, Andy, slow down. I still have treatment to undergo. The only difference is that it will be outpatient.”

“I know, I know.” Andy held up his hands and tried to sound supportive, but Lexie could practically see the wheels in his head turning as he began to pace near the foot of the bed.

Instead of throttling Andy like she wanted to do, she asked Bailey his name and birthday and handed him his next pill.

“But, when you do get settled back at home we’ll be able to work around your schedule and we can start out slow. I’m not suggesting a world tour or anything.” Andy gestured to the side and as he continued to talk, she wasn’t sure if he was talking to Bailey or to himself. “The American Cancer Society wants to know if you’ll be a spokesman for them and you know it would be a great opportunity. And, the guys said you have some new songs put together and—”

“Andy, could you give us a minute here?” Oliver stopped Andy in the middle of his brainstorming by placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Oh yeah, sure. No problem. I need to take care of a few things. I’ll check back in later.” Andy took off, but it was obvious his mind was elsewhere.

Lexie didn’t care how loyal Andy had been to the band, there was something about him that didn’t sit right with her. Since when was the bottom-line more important than Bailey’s health? A shudder ran through her. She was pretty sure Andy would find a way to cash in on the band, whether or not Bailey lived or died. “What is he on?”

“Coffee, I think. We told him he should switch to decaf a long time ago.”

“Sound advice.”

“Hey, Lexie,” Oliver took a step toward her and lowered his voice when his brother answered a call on his cell phone. “About last night and what I said.”

“Oliver, don’t.” She stepped back from him and moved to leave. If she stood close, she wouldn’t be able to think clearly.

“I mean it.” He stepped toward her until he’d backed her into the door and out of earshot of his brother. “I want you, and soon. I’m going crazy.”

“You can’t always get what you want, Oliver.” When he raised an eyebrow as if to say ‘Wanna bet?’ she added, “No, not even you.”

“Don’t be so sure.”

“Look, I was upset and you were really decent to me, but you’re about to leave and you won’t be seeing me anymore.”

A crease formed between his eyes as he narrowed them at her. “Says who?”

“Oliver, in no time at all you’ll be on your way back to California and I’ll still be here. You’ll move on with your life. It isn’t fair to either one of us to start something that isn’t going anywhere.”

“But, Lexie,” he took her shoulders in his hands forcing her to tilt her head up to look at him. “Don’t we at least deserve a chance to find out what this could be?”

“Please, Oliver,” she placed a hand on his chest to stop him from pulling her mouth to his.

“I can stay in Atlanta.”

She raised her arms and broke free of his grip. “Be serious, Oliver.”

“I am. In fact, I think I’m the only one taking this seriously.” He ran his thumb down the side of her face and traced the curve of her neck down to her collarbone. When she shivered, he leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. “Don’t push me away.”

Every time Lexie got close to Oliver she ended up more confused. Why did he feel the need to complicate her life? Why couldn’t they be friends? Friendship wasn’t complicated. Leave it to Oliver Honeycutt to mess everything up. She was living life exactly the way she wanted. She had her own place, some friends she went out with on occasion. Things in her life were just fine.

She flipped to the next screen and continued to fill out forms as her mind betrayed her. She couldn’t let Oliver’s words go. Or feeling the way his strong hands felt on her shoulders and the way his lips felt when they touched hers. She sighed. Who was she kidding? They couldn’t be friends even if she wanted to be. Not when what she really wanted was to be taken to bed by Oliver again and again until she couldn’t walk.

“Earth to Lexie,” said a familiar voice from next to her.

“What? Oh sorry, Laura, I was lost in thought.”

“Apparently. I said I heard Bailey was being released. I guess that means life is going to go back to normal after tomorrow.”

“I guess so.” Lexie’s heart dropped into her stomach. Normal had never sounded less appealing. She hadn’t realized how much she had enjoyed seeing Oliver every day and her job didn’t extend to outpatient procedures. Even if he were to accompany his brother to the hospital every other day for treatment, she wouldn’t see him. He would adjust back to his normal life, which was a lot more exciting than ‘fine’, and she would become a distant memory. A little light in the middle of a dark time in his life.

For her, things would be different. He would always be the man who reawakened her heart. The man who showed her that her life was missing something important—someone important. Once he was gone, she feared her heart might not recover a second time.

The following morning, after a night of tossing and turning, Lexie decided to put her feelings aside and help Oliver celebrate his brother’s release. Regardless of how she felt, today was a big day for their family. Bailey was finally getting a sliver of his life back.

As she pulled into the parking lot, she was forced to maneuver through several news vans and cars parked against curbs. She slammed on her breaks, using one hand to hold the white bakery box in place on the passenger seat, as a man with a camera stepped out in front of her, oblivious to her presence. Based on sheer volume alone, she guessed word must have spread of Bailey’s release. She wondered for a moment if the news was leaked to the press by a hospital employee or purposely by Andy. It was no secret he was over the moon about his star’s release and anxious to get the guys back to work. Bailey wasn’t even home yet and everyone was chomping at the bit to get to him. It was sickening. If she were the one being released from the hospital, all she would want would be to go home and flop down on the couch, surrounded by her things and the quiet.

When she climbed out of her car, she gave herself one last glance at her reflection in the backseat window. She’d taken a little extra time on her hair and her wardrobe choice. It was only the second time Oliver would be seeing her where she wasn’t exhausted after work. Dressed in her best form fitting jeans, with a frilly green top which showed off her arms and complimented her eyes, the ensemble was topped off with grey ankle boots and matching earrings. It was outside the norm for her, but what the heck? Oliver was worth the extra effort, and if this was the last time she saw him, better to leave an impression.

She grabbed the box filled with mixed pastries from her favorite bakery and found her way to her usual floor. When Laura whistled as she passed the nurse’s station, Lexie threw her a wave. Flooded with confidence and warmth, she held her head high as she made her way down the hall, but when she neared Bailey’s room, Andy and Cathy exited. They were followed by Dr. Milo and Oliver, and as she raised her hand to catch his attention, a girl she didn’t recognize stepped out behind Oliver and took his hand.